SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 823, 3 December 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

[fkom our own correspondent. ] WELLINGTON. December 2. The plans for the defence of the various harbors in the Colony have been prepared, but it is not considered advisable to make their details public at present. At a time before the plans are finally decided upon, an officer of experience will be selected to report upon them. While preaching at the Roman Catholic Cathedral yesterday morning, the Rev. Father M'Guinness followed up the remarks of the Rev. Father Henneberry at Auckland. Father M'Guinness spoke strongly against balls and other worldly amusements, and condemned the young ladies of the day for dressing in the extreme of fashion in rich garments, while they were standing on the brink of an awful eternity. He quoted Tertullians remarks, " That the earth is but an abbreviation of hell," and said that if Catholics properly realised their position, they would go about in tears instead of spending their brief lives in thoughtless gaiety and heedless pleasure. Mr. Moore, who has been business manager for the New Zealander since its starting, having been appointed to the editorship of the Christcliurch Globe, has severed his connection with the former journal. In a few days he will prnceed to Christchurch. It is proposed to establish a Board of Conservators for the Hutt River. The Rev. Mr. Reid, preaching in the Wesleyan Church yesterday, replied to an article in the Post on Sunday observance. Ho condemned the mail steamers leaving on Sunday, and the tram cars running. He also

advised his hearers to throw their Monday morning's newspaper behind the fire as soon as they receive it, because men had to work on Sunday to bring it out. December 3.

Arrangements are in progress between the Postal authorities and the Union Steain Ship Company to accelerate the delivery of the San Francisco mail on the New Zealand coast by one clear day at all places south of Napier ; also to despatch the outward mails a day later than at present by sending a steamer to Manakau. The Stonnbird has just returned from the wreck of the Southminster, and reports that the wreck has 13 feet of water alongside. The vessel is barely a quarter of a mile from the shore. Nothing is being done to sav« the cargo. The men are still in tents ashore awaiting orders from the captain, who is at the Kerangau Telegraph Station. The sails have not even been furled. Mr. Boardman, of the South British Insurance Company, took possession of the wreck, and placed a crew of six men, whom he took down specially, in charge of her. The weather is now fine and the sea smooth, but on the first south-easter the ship must break \ip. Mr. Boardman asserts that the South British Company's loss does not exceed LIOOO.